Terry and Grady Go Flying

Chris and I met out at the field early this morning. It was cold and the sun was coming up an hour later due to daylight-savings time, but it was predicted to be a perfect morning for flying. They got it right this time!

When I was just a baby, my Uncle Terry started taking me flying in a Cessna 172. I've been flying my entire life and wouldn't want to live without aviation. I've taken him up in a Cessna, and even up for an aerobatic ride in the Decathlon, but this was his first ride in a PPC. I actually got to take Terry and Grady up for a 45 minute ride each. It could have been longer, but I need to change the pitch on my prop. I didn't have enough power and was burning gas at almost double the rate I should have been... They did enjoy the time they got though!

Chris and his son Dustin heading out.

This horse was posing by the water.

Here's how the radio conversation went for this photo: Hit your smoke. What? Turn on your smoke. Huh? Your smoke, turn it on! Oh, okay!

Two powered parachutes would head out that day... only one would return. Oh, wait, that's just a farmer burning his trash! Sorry...

This was a nice looking place.

Not my best shot, but I loved the windmill's shadow.

I don't know what this is. Everyone seems to be leaning toward a skeet shooting setup.

Longhorns in the right color - Burnt Orange!

This truck has a huge sleeper on it. I liked the shadow of course!

It's raining today, so enjoy these photos. It may be awhile before it dries out enough for us to fly again.

Jack

Megan's First Ride

I finally got a chance to take my youngest Daughter up for a PPC ride. I was worried she might freak out a little, but she loved it. She wanted it to be a little scary and it wasn't, but other than that....!

We got into the air after the afternooon winds subsided and headed off to the West. We flew over a park that we like to play in, flew over the carnival, saw our house from the air, and she was excited to see her school had a big hole in it. After some reflection, she remembered she'd had lunch in that hole - an open area with trees in it.

It was nice to spend some time with her doing something we both enjoyed. As she's getting older, I'm not quite as smart or fun as I used to be!!

I couldn't help but sing the Sanford & Sons theme!

The carnival is back!

Tree shadows.

Heading back. We were getting cold.

Travis spotted this trike next to him and called me on the radio to show me.

Travis and Sandra coming in for a landing.

The trike pilot came in to meet us.

Megan posing for an after-flight shot.

The trike departing Taylor for Lago Vista.

Off into the sunset. He's quick!

Jack

Wharton

Friday morning, Travis and I headed out for Wharton for a fly-in. It was one of our easier trips as it was only about 3 hours. It was supposed to be windy Friday, but Saturday looked like we would be able to fly all day. It wasn't to be though... Saturday was windy for most of the day. We did get to have some great food and hang out with some good people though, so all wasn't lost!

Saturday afternoon, a couple of guys decided they'd had enough waiting and headed out to fly. I checked the wind speed when they were going out, it was showing 9, gusting to 18. The first guy, Frank, took off like a rocket and headed up quickly. We could tell he was getting beat around pretty badly though. He came back around in the pattern and actually landed well. Then he decided to taxi back with his chute up and it shot him back into the air! His second landing was not pretty and blew his tire off of the rim. Luckily, that was the only damage.

The second guy, Bob, apparently wasn't fazed by Frank's performance and decided he and his wife would head up as well. He didn't make if far before he ended up with the PPC rolled onto its side.

After that, we decided to head out as it didn't appear to be getting better... of course it did!

We were driving back and it got down to 6 and seemed to still be dropping. I told Travis I wanted to stop at Smithville and get in a quick flight. I got 30 minutes in some very calm air. I needed that!

Wayne had a crowd around his "Chutes of Hazzard" PPC all day.


This is Louis' Predator. I really like the color.

Some more of Wayne's General Lee themed PPC.

Some people just don't like attention!

Craig had people checking out his Predator too. It's very nice.

If you were asking yourself how many PPC pilots it takes to fix a Cirrus... well, it's 10!

I took a photo of Scott Hughes taking a photo!

This is my favorite Predator. The "Red Baron" belongs to Gunny.

This Predator is always popular!

This is Frank on his scary flight!

This is after he landed and was shot back into the air!

And he came back down.

Here is Bob trying to take off.

Everyone was okay, but the PPC will need some work.

This crop duster is based at the field.

This is Smithville.

The train yard at Smithville.

Final approach to runway 35 put me near downtown.

A close up of the train museum.

See you next time! Jack